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Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport leaders look for input to bring in new airline

By Jessica Maher Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
05/17/2013 08:51:57 PM MDT

In this file photo, an airplane flies past other aircraft on the tarmac as it takes off from the Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport in Loveland.
(
Jenny Sparks
)

After months of research, analysis and even a bit of soul-searching, leaders at the Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport are ready to move full steam ahead in their quest to recruit a commercial airline.

Bruce Tarletsky, director of airport marketing for the consulting firm Avports Management, updated leaders from Fort Collins and Loveland on Thursday on the progress that the firm has made since joining the recruitment effort last fall through an FAA grant.

"We are ready to roll," he said. "We are ready to talk to airlines on a serious level."

The first question that had to be answered was a simple but important one: Is there really a market to support air service at the airport? Mounds of data and analysis from Denver International Airport and the service that Allegiant Airlines provided prior to their abrupt exit year firmly make the case, Tarletsky said.

"The thing we can't forget about the fact that Allegiant was here is that it's proven that if we have an airport that people will use it," he said.

The process has also included a community stakeholder group that's anticipated to have a continuing role moving forward. Avports officials have sat down with the region's major employers and leaders as well as economic development departments in both cities, tourism entities, Colorado State University and more.

"We have a clearer understanding and a clearer appreciation of what it's going to take to market this airport," Tarletsky said. "We have our own brand in Northern Colorado; we need to market ourselves as Northern Colorado."

The tables have turned from what the cities and companies can do for the airport to what the airport can do for those entities. Tarletsky noted that the approach is different for each city: For Fort Collins companies, the conversation centers around how the airport can help grow companies and retain employees. In Loveland, it's about how the airport can play a role in filling the former Agilent campus.

"We're going to tailor our approach very individually, as long as we as a group understand it's a regional asset," Tarletsky said.

The dozens of regional entities that form the stakeholder group are all expected to be partners going forward in the process of seeking a new airline. Some will even be part of the process in speaking with interested airline representatives.

"The community group has really been important to us and will remain important as part of this program," airport manager Jason Licon said. "Not only is it support for air service but it's also education for how important air service is for the airport."

The strategic plan crafted by Avports is expected to be complete by the end of June, with a final airline presentation model anticipated in the next couple of weeks. The airport's business plan will also be updated, Tarletsky said.

"We've talked with business leaders in the community and told everybody the same thing: If it wasn't for that Allegiant decision we wouldn't be here today talking about how to make this a world-class airport," he said.